Kanchanaburi prepares for River Khwae Week

the river kwai bridge: Flivkr.com

Kanchanaburi Province in the West prepares to celebrate the annual River Khwae Week.

Highlights of the event include historical and archaeological exhibits, a carnival, folk and cultural performances, rides on World War II vintage trains and light and sound presentations to reenact the bridge’s World War II experience.

A light and sound show will commemorate the historical bridge and the “Death Railway” construction. Headphones will be available for narrations in English, Japanese, Chinese and German.

The River Khwae Week this year is held from 27 November to 8 December 2009.

Kanchanaburi province, located in the west of Thailand, is famous for its historical bridge over the River Khwae built in 1942 by prisoners of war (POWs) and the Death Railway built during the Japanese occupation in 1942. The city is also home to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Thailand-Burma Railway Museum and the JEATH War Museum.

Each year in late November to early December, the world famous River Khwae Bridge built by Allied prisoners-of-war during World War II, becomes the focal point of celebrations. (NNT)